India among seven interested parties in continuous dialogue with IOC as virtual presentations begin in November, with final host election scheduled for mid-2029
New Delhi, Oct 2026 : India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games has entered a crucial phase after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) unveiled the roadmap for selecting the host, with India among seven interested parties currently engaged in dialogue with the global sports governing body.
The IOC on Tuesday published a handbook outlining the selection process and key requirements for potential hosts. Under the roadmap, the IOC Executive Board is expected to shortlist projects for the next stage by March 2027, setting the stage for a more detailed assessment of the bids.
Besides India, Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Türkiye are currently in continuous dialogue with the IOC over their stated interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
The development marks another step in India’s effort to bring the world’s biggest sporting event to the country for the first time. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally submitted a Letter of Intent to the IOC’s Future Host Commission on October 1, 2024, expressing India’s interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics.
The Future Host Commission oversees the process of assessing potential hosts, while the final hosting rights are awarded by IOC Members following the multi-stage selection procedure.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasised that athletes must remain at the centre of the host selection process and the organisation of the Games.
“I was fortunate to compete at five Olympic Games, across four continents. Each had their own character,” Coventry said in an official statement.
She said every host brought something unique through its people, culture and approach to staging the Games, but stressed that the experience of athletes must remain the starting point for every future host project.
Under the newly announced roadmap, interested parties will make virtual presentations to the Future Host Commission in November 2026. The IOC will then undertake feasibility assessments, with the process expected to reach the next stage by March 2027.
The Executive Board will subsequently open a Strategic Dialogue with projects that are shortlisted. India and the other interested parties will be assessed on a range of technical, financial and strategic parameters.
These will include the proposed venue masterplan, athlete experience, funding strategy, political and public support, Games-delivery capabilities and long-term legacy plans. The IOC will also examine each project’s overall vision and how it aligns with local development priorities and the wider objectives of the Olympic Movement.
The selection process will progress towards a final phase in December 2028, when the Executive Board is scheduled to open a targeted dialogue with a select group of preferred hosts.
The Preferred Hosts will then be required to submit final responses to the IOC questionnaire along with a comprehensive set of guarantees covering the delivery of the Games.
The final decision is scheduled to be taken by IOC Members at an IOC Session in mid-2029, when the host of the 2036 Olympic Games will be elected.
The IOC has also set October 31, 2026 as the deadline after which no new interested parties will be considered for the 2036 Games.
The current process reflects the IOC’s approach of working through continuous dialogue with potential hosts and assessing how proposed Games can fit into long-term development plans.
For India, the coming months will therefore be significant as it prepares its presentation and develops its project further amid competition from the six other interested parties. The country’s proposal will now undergo the IOC’s technical and strategic assessment before the process moves towards the eventual selection of the 2036 host.
